Liberty Van Zandt

Liberty Van Zandt is a fictional character on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. She is portrayed by Sarah Barrable-Tishauer

Season 1

Liberty The School Marm

Liberty's first appearance on Degrassi is the second episode, "Family Politics." It was apparent that she's the local school marm when she takes the election for Treasurer very seriously. In following episodes, it became more apparent that she was a stereotypical geek. In fact, that's J.T. Yorke's favorite insult for her.

Rumors about Liberty

In the episode, "Rumours and Reputation" Liberty meets her first match at school: rumours. Rumours begin spreading that she and Mr. Armstrong, her math teacher are having a secret affair. The school believes the rumour, and begin to laugh when Mr. Armstrong shows her more attention in class.

In turns out, her friend Emma Nelson began the rumour accidentally, but was the first to volunteer to find out who started it. Things get worse when Liberty is pulled into the office by Mr. Raditch to be interrogated about the rumoured affair. Emma announces that it was her fault, and Liberty seems to be more hurt that people must find out why she had been staying late with Mr. Armstrong. She has dyscalculia, and was getting extra tutoring from Mr. Armstrong. Her friendship with Emma is broken by the rumours, and she's goes on being the typical "A" student.

Season 3

First Real Boyfriend

Liberty gets her first boyfriend, Towerz, but they broke up over the summer of 2004

Season 4

Crushing on Chris

In the episode of "King Of Pain", Liberty had shown an interest in Chris, which made Emma kind of jealous, so Emma invites Chris over to prevent him of going on a date with Liberty Friday. Liberty catches Emma in the gym flirting with Chris while he's stretching out, to make Liberty jealous. Liberty tells Emma that she is dead to her because "jealousy is really ugly." But Chris wasn't really looking forward to a relationship with Liberty.

Liberty In Love

Liberty's crush on J.T. began in the episode "Secrets and Lies," and continued all the way to season 5. It begins when she wants to interview him for the school newspaper, The Grapevine, and he blows her off by lying that he's gay. A new side of Liberty is seen when she asks Emma and Manny if maybe she and J.T. could be the next Jimmy Brooks and Ashley Kerwin, the school sweethearts.

J.T. wards her off throughout season 1 continuously.

JT and Liberty get Together

Yet in season 4, after the shooting, Liberty writes a version of the play Dracula, and JT, head of the drama club, decides to use it for the play. When principal Mr. Raditch decides that this is too violent and that he wants something cheery, Liberty and JT come up with a really bad song and when they present it to Manny, another drama club head, she doesn't like it. Liberty and JT brainstorm in Liberty's hot tub and think of a song of rebellion to sing to Mr. Raditch. JT chickens out but a raging Liberty sings the song. The two get detention. During the detention JT apologizes for chickening out and Liberty says, "You know what I should have done?" Then she kisses him and he kisses her back. They become a couple.

Season 5

Pregnant Liberty

When Liberty and boyfriend JT have sex over the summer, they decide to use an extra-large condom which falls off in coitus and results in Liberty's pregnancy. During the course of her pregnancy, JT breaks up with Liberty because of her treatment of him. Later, they reunite but JT wants Liberty to give the baby up for adoption. Liberty refuses but she begs JT to come to the doctor's with her for a checkup. JT is nervous when they first get to the doctor's but is amazed after seeing his baby on the ultrasound. After the checkup is over JT and Liberty talk about what to do with the baby and JT finally gives in and decides to keep the baby and raise it with Liberty. They start looking for apartments before telling Liberty's parents and JT's grandma but can't find any good ones in their price range. They tell JT's grandma and Liberty's parents who are furious. Liberty's father is willing to help her with the baby as long as she dumps JT. Liberty refuses to. JT then realizes that the cost of having a baby is expensive and starts thinking of alternatives on how to support Liberty and the baby. While working at the pharmacy, JT is approached by Jay who offers him a job in which he would steal drugs from the pharmacy he works at and selling them. After first refusing, JT takes Jay up on his offer and begins selling drugs. Afterwards, he realizes it was wrong and tries to tell Jay he wants to quit but Jay and his friend threaten him. Realizing the trouble he's in, JT takes a handful of drugs and passes out. He wakes up in the hospital and when Liberty visits she's furious and breaks up with him. But in the end Liberty decides to put the child up for adoption. She eventually gives him a box of personal items to remember her as the baby's family was going to move away.